Hospice ride raises over $30,000

Hundreds of riders joined in for Southern Ohio Medical Center’s (SOMC) Hospice 9th Annual Ride for Hospice on July 29th.

Mackenzie Coakley with Hospice explained that this year’s event raised over $30,000 for Hospice’s Caritas Fund. The Caritas Fund is used to assist patients with whatever their personal needs may be. Coakley stated that the fund has been used to assist with medical supplies, buy groceries and has even been used to buy Christmas presents for patient families.

Knowing the importance of Hospice, New Boston Village Administrator Steve Hamilton and his daughter Ali, who is also Miss Glenwood, took part in this year’s ride.

“On July 29th, my daughter and I rode in the Hospice ride for SOMC,” Steve explained. “It was all her idea because they (Hospice) took care of her grandparents.”

Coakley commented that 378 riders joined in for this year’s fundraiser.

Steven explained that he and his daughter rode in the middle of all the bikers that came out to support the effort.

“Her platform is ‘A Happy Heart is a Healthy Heart,’” Steve explained. “She told me she knows a lot of people have gone to Hospice over heart trouble.”

The father-daughter duo said they enjoyed not only being able to help a worthy cause but also to have to opportunity to connect with others trying to make positive contributions to the community.

“It was a great day for a ride,” Hamilton stated. “We both did it in support of Hospice and for the fun of it. Plus, we met a bunch of great people riding for the cause.”

The SOMC Hospice ride takes place each year on the last Saturday in July. For more information about the Caritas Fund or to learn how to make a donation, visit http://www.somc.org/development/areastosupport.php.